Julia Fox Wants You to Have More Sex During the Quarantine

Julia Fox knows a thing or two about sex. Not only did she work as a dominatrix in high school (more on that below), but she wrote and directed a short film called Fantasy Girls about a real-life prostitution ring in Reno, Nevada; played a mistress as her breakout role in last year's Uncut Gems; and will play a cam girl in an upcoming film called PVT Chat. With the world on pause due to the pandemic, the 30-year-old Italian American newcomer, who stars in CR's latest issue, has been sheltering in place in the East Village with husband Peter Artemiev. Between cooking elaborate Italian dishes and watching steamy classics from the '90s, the couple has found plenty of time for a romp in the hay (or two or three). Below, Fox shares with CR her most foolproof tips and tricks for keeping your partner—and, hell, yourself!—satisfied during these anxiety-ridden times.

You worked as a dominatrix in high school. What was that like?"I learned how to adapt, read a situation, and perform. I think it was the best improv class I could have ever taken. The stakes are really high and the pressure is on."

What advice would you give someone who wants to get started in that industry?"Befriend someone. Have a mentor or someone to walk you through it because when you show up and work on your first day, it’s kind of like, ready, set, go. There’s no preparation; no one really teaches you the ropes or how to compose yourself when certain situations arise. And there’s all these tricks. So befriend someone and then have them mentor you so you don’t make mistakes or get taken advantage of. I got really lucky and befriended someone on my first day. She was 10 years older than me and I was still in high school, and it turned out she had gone to the same high school as me so we bonded over that. She was kind of the queen. There’s always a matriarchal figure. I was really lucky to be able to watch and learn from her."

Do you still dabble in BDSM?"No, not so much. I don’t really have any unique fetishes and have never been with a partner who had any either, ironically."

Jason Nocito

You said you and your husband Peter are rewatching a ton of movies during the quarantine. What do you think are some of the sexiest films ever made?"Cruel intentions and Basic Instinct are the ones that immediately come to mind. Both characters—played by Sarah Michelle Gellar and Sharon Stone [respectively]—are these bad girls, but they’re also very empowered sexually and they dangle their sexuality in front of their prey. They know how to manipulate them. They’re almost kind of dominatrix-y in a way. And of course, there's the whole denial aspect, which is the real fetish."

A recent study found that a major source of conflict between couples during the quarantine involves communication about sex. How do you and Peter maintain physical intimacy—as well as mystery and excitement—when you’re stuck in close quarters for long periods of time? "I guess the only mystery is on his end—wondering if I’m going to be in the mood or not."

What's something surprising you've learned about your relationship during the quarantine?"That we work really well in quarantine. Before this, we let a lot of outside factors influence our relationship, but once those were eliminated, it became very harmonious. I had a lot on my plate and was being pulled in so many directions that it was really hard to prioritize my partner, and there was this really big shift where all of a sudden, I'm not just his best-kept secret—all of a sudden, the whole world is seeing me. That was a lot for him to deal with. All of the attention and all of the guys sliding in my DMs. Stuff like that. Also, I was just distracted. I was really focusing on my next move, and suddenly he wasn’t really my priority anymore. I was sad about it. Then the quarantine happened—I think I was alone for two weeks before I called him and I was like, 'Hey, whats up?' And we’ve been together ever since. I don't know what'll happen when the quarantine is over. But it's definitely nice not to do it alone. People who are quarantining alone must really be going through it. I'm happy that's not the case for me."

What would you recommend for a couple who's struggling sexually during these times? "If you don’t feel like having sex, that’s fine, too! But if you or your partner are starting to get cranky and irritable toward each other, being intimate will definitely cure that. The first step is always the hardest, and then once you’re going at it, you’ll get into it. It’s really important to the overall health of your relationship not to lose rhythm and to stay in the habit of remaining sexually consistent. If you’re having trouble initiating, you can start with massages. A massage will always turn sexual, you know?"

Alright—what about single people? What advice would you give them?"Go online and get yourself a Hitachi Magic Wand and go to town. But not too much because your vagina will lose sensitivity and it takes a few days to come back. Been there."

Jason Nocito

What tips or tricks would you give someone who wants to satisfy or surprise their partner, or at least bring back some excitement into the relationship?"In my experience, I’ve found that guys don’t really care too much for the bells and whistles like elaborate lingerie or toys or whatever. All a guy wants is a surprise blow job now and then. It’s actually that easy!"

Speaking of sex toys for couples, any favorites or ones you guys swear by?"We actually just got into lube. It makes sex so much easier on me, especially since we are having lots of it. Let me find the bottle—it just gets thrown behind the bed, you know? It's called Sliquid H20 Natural Lubricant."

What's the best piece of sex advice you've ever received?"Don’t fake it. It really sets women back. Your partner shouldn’t be walking around thinking he’s a sex god when he’s not. At the same time, you’re also robbing him of the chance of actually learning how to please us."

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